another way

Church has a distinct meaning for me–a shape in my mind from experience, from tales passed down, from conversations on what it could be, from lament on what it has become, from looking back and dreaming forward–all of it forming a shape I can’t fully articulate.

Church means something for you, too.

Church, it is not a finite shape, but for me it is primarily American, protestant, evangelical, charismatic, experiential and institutional. These may not all seem congruent, but that is precisely the point. If all of my thoughts on the Church don’t fit your view, that’s ok.

None of it really matters, it’s just context–systems and language set up to try to organize and help but aren’t always needed forever.

We get wrapped around the context and the words and the history and the hurt and the hope and the future and it’s actually simpler than all of that.

I am convinced, there is another way.

Three statements from Jesus guide us in exploring another way.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Love for one another is the first facet of another way.

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

The presence of another Helper is the second facet of another way.

Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Go. Make. Baptize. Teach.

These actions are the movement of the church.

Most of us will go. We have gone, and we’ll do it again. Whether it’s across the world or across the room, we’ve been obedient to the HS in some way to go to people.

Most of us will teach. We have taught, and we’ll do it again. Whether it’s preaching from a stage encouraging someone who is hurting, or passing on helpful or interesting things we’ve learned. Pointing people toward the love of God has probably come up from time to time.

But most people who love Jesus have not baptized anyone. Most people who love Jesus have not made any disciples.

It is the intersection of these three statements that guide exploring another way.

If you want to explore with us or are curious enough to tag along, welcome to another way.